Direct and Indirect Speech in Hindi Rules Examples and Exercises

1. Definitions

Direct Speech (प्रत्यक्ष वाक्य)

• Definition:
  Direct speech is the exact reproduction of a speaker’s words. In Hindi, the speaker’s exact words are quoted within “quotation marks” (” “) and are often preceded or followed by a reporting verb such as कहा.
• Example:
  

  राम: “मैं बाजार जा रहा हूँ।”
  (Ram: “I am going to the market.”)

  Contents

  1. DefinitionsDirect Speech (प्रत्यक्ष वाक्य)Indirect Speech (अप्रत्यक्ष वाक्य) 2. Rules for Converting Direct to Indirect Speech in Hindi 3. Examples with Hindi-to-English Conversion 4. ExercisesSuggested Answers: 5. SummaryHere the 50 Examples of Direct & Indirect Speech:

Indirect Speech (अप्रत्यक्ष वाक्य)

• Definition:
  Indirect speech (also known as reported speech) conveys the meaning of what someone said without quoting the exact words. In Hindi, the reporting clause is typically followed by कि (“that”) and necessary changes in pronouns, verb tenses, and time expressions are made.
• Example:
  

  राम ने कहा कि वह बाजार जा रहा है।
  (Ram said that he was going to the market.)

2. Rules for Converting Direct to Indirect Speech in Hindi

1. Removal of Quotation Marks:
   • In indirect speech, quotation marks are not used.
2. Use of Reporting Verb with “कि”:
   • After the reporting verb (जैसे, कहा, बताया), add कि to introduce the reported clause.
     • Direct: उसने कहा, “मैं पढ़ रहा हूँ।”
     • Indirect: उसने कहा कि वह पढ़ रहा है।
3. Pronoun Changes:
   • Change pronouns to match the perspective of the reporting sentence.
     • Direct: “मैं” becomes वह/वे (if reporting by a third person).
4. Tense Adjustments:
   • Verb tenses are often changed based on the context of reporting. For example:
     • Present continuous (“रहा हूँ”) may change to present continuous or simple present depending on the reporting time.
     • Future tense: “जाऊँगा” might become “जाएगा” or “जाऊँगा” with a time shift.
5. Time and Place Expressions:
   • Words like आज, कल, यहाँ, वहाँ may change to उस दिन, अगले दिन, वहाँ etc., to fit the context.
     • Example:
       • Direct: “मैं कल स्कूल जाऊँगा।”
       • Indirect: उसने कहा कि वह अगले दिन स्कूल जाएगा।

3. Examples with Hindi-to-English Conversion

Below is a table showing examples of converting Direct Speech to Indirect Speech along with their English translations.

Note:

• In the second example, “कल” is changed to “अगले दिन” to reflect the shift in time.
• Pronoun “मैं” becomes “वह” or “उसका” as required in the indirect version.

4. Exercises

Practice converting the following Direct Speech sentences into Indirect Speech:

1. Exercise 1:
   Direct: “मैंने खाना खा लिया।”
   Hint: Change the pronoun and remove the quotation marks.

2. Exercise 2:
   Direct: “वह कहता है, ‘मैं सो रहा हूँ।'”
   Hint: Adjust the verb tense and pronoun appropriately.

3. Exercise 3:
   Direct: “राज ने कहा, ‘मैं अगले हफ्ते भारत जाऊँगा।'”
   Hint: Change the time expression if needed and adjust the pronoun.

Suggested Answers:

1. Exercise 1 Answer:
   • Indirect Speech: उसने कहा कि उसने खाना खा लिया।
2. Exercise 2 Answer:
   • Indirect Speech: उसने कहा कि वह सो रहा है।
3. Exercise 3 Answer:
   • Indirect Speech: राज ने कहा कि वह अगले हफ्ते भारत जाएगा।

Tip: While practicing, pay attention to:

• Pronoun Changes: (e.g., “मैं” → “वह/उसने”)
• Verb Tense Shifts: (e.g., present to past when required)
• Time/Place Adjustments: (e.g., “कल” may become “अगले दिन” or “पिछले दिन” based on context)

5. Summary

• Direct Speech quotes the speaker’s exact words and is enclosed in quotation marks.
• Indirect Speech reports what was said using कि and requires changes in pronouns, verb tenses, and time expressions.
• Practice by converting sentences using the rules mentioned above, and always check if the reported sentence accurately reflects the meaning of the original direct speech.

By understanding these rules and practicing with the examples provided, you can master the conversion between direct and indirect speech in Hindi.